Body Shop Fire Being Investigated

August 03, 2007|By TINA A. BROWN; Courant Staff Writer

Fire officials were investigating a suspicious fire Thursday morning at an auto body shop on Nelson Street that investigators suspect could be linked to a dispute that followed a July 28 motor vehicle accident, Hartford Fire Inspector Ewan Sheriff said.

Three vehicles and the front of a building occupied by Walton Auto Repair Shop were on fire when firefighters arrived about 5 a.m., he said. The building at 128 Nelson St. had minor damage.

Authorities have not determined what was used to set the fire, but Sheriff said ``it was deliberately set. We're just not sure how.'' A flammable liquid was used.

Sheriff is working with detectives from the Hartford Police Department to determine whether a dispute after an accident on July 28 is linked to the fire.

Based on the preliminary investigation, the driver of an all-terrain vehicle hit a pickup truck and left the scene on foot, leaving his ATV behind.

Once the police left the area, Sheriff said, the owner of the ATV returned to Nelson Street, twice inquiring at the auto body shop about the whereabouts of the vehicle. Sheriff said the owner of the ATV accused the owner of the auto body shop of keeping the vehicle after the accident.

``He came back and threatened to retaliate,'' Sheriff said.

During one of the visits, the man threatened to shoot the shop owner, he said.

``This is an active investigation,'' Sheriff said. ``The fire was set. It was not accidental.''